Cyclamen africanum
Encyclopedia
Cyclamen africanum is a perennial
growing from a tuber
, native to northern Algeria
and Tunisia
. It is similar to Cyclamen hederifolium
, but not frost-hardy
.
produces root
s from the top, sides, and bottom, unlike Cyclamen hederifolium, which produces roots from the top and sides, but not the bottom.
Both the leaves
and flower
s are similar to Cyclamen hederifolium, but are larger on average.
Leaf and flower stalks extend straight up from the tuber; in Cyclamen hederifolium the leaf stalks extend outwards before bending up, forming an "elbow".
Cyclamen africanum crosses easily with Cyclamen hederifolium. Plants sold by nurseries are often hybrids between the two species (Cyclamen ×hildebrandii O. Schwarz). This robust hybrid is more hardy than Cyclamen africanum and can be planted outside in a sheltered place.
External links=
Perennial plant
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. The term is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter lived annuals and biennials. The term is sometimes misused by commercial gardeners or horticulturalists to describe only herbaceous perennials...
growing from a tuber
Tuber
Tubers are various types of modified plant structures that are enlarged to store nutrients. They are used by plants to survive the winter or dry months and provide energy and nutrients for regrowth during the next growing season and they are a means of asexual reproduction...
, native to northern Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
and Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
. It is similar to Cyclamen hederifolium
Cyclamen hederifolium
Cyclamen hederifolium is the most widespread cyclamen species, the most widely cultivated after the florist's cyclamen , and the most hardy and vigorous in oceanic climates...
, but not frost-hardy
Hardiness (plants)
Hardiness of plants describe their ability to survive adverse growing conditions. It is usually limited to discussions of climatic adversity. Thus a plant's ability to tolerate cold, heat, drought, flooding, or wind are typically considered measurements of hardiness. Hardiness of plants is defined...
.
Description
The tuberTuber
Tubers are various types of modified plant structures that are enlarged to store nutrients. They are used by plants to survive the winter or dry months and provide energy and nutrients for regrowth during the next growing season and they are a means of asexual reproduction...
produces root
Root
In vascular plants, the root is the organ of a plant that typically lies below the surface of the soil. This is not always the case, however, since a root can also be aerial or aerating . Furthermore, a stem normally occurring below ground is not exceptional either...
s from the top, sides, and bottom, unlike Cyclamen hederifolium, which produces roots from the top and sides, but not the bottom.
Both the leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
and flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s are similar to Cyclamen hederifolium, but are larger on average.
Leaf and flower stalks extend straight up from the tuber; in Cyclamen hederifolium the leaf stalks extend outwards before bending up, forming an "elbow".
Cyclamen africanum crosses easily with Cyclamen hederifolium. Plants sold by nurseries are often hybrids between the two species (Cyclamen ×hildebrandii O. Schwarz). This robust hybrid is more hardy than Cyclamen africanum and can be planted outside in a sheltered place.
External links=
- Cyclamen Society
- Pacific Bulb Society
- Cyclamen: a guide for gardeners, horticulturists, and botanists by C. Grey-Wilson — Google Books
- CalPhotos
- Bulb Log, 30th July 2008 (photos of tuber)
- photos — Mark Griffiths
- photos — FlickrFlickrFlickr is an image hosting and video hosting website, web services suite, and online community that was created by Ludicorp in 2004 and acquired by Yahoo! in 2005. In addition to being a popular website for users to share and embed personal photographs, the service is widely used by bloggers to...
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